MMM Past Issues

Quote for the Week

" The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

MMM Submissions

To have information from your ag ed organization included in the Monday Morning Monitor, email Amaris Ketcham at aketcham.naae@uky.edu.

Agricultural Education prepares students for successful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resources systems.

CAST Friday Notes

New media and ag education take center stage on page one, with controversies about child labor laws and “meatless Mondays” also showing up. If you haven’t yet carved your pumpkin, check out the amazing art way down in the General Section of the news links. Happy Halloween.

Find out more from The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology's (CAST) weekly online newsletter,Friday Notes. It has been distributed to member organizations, companies, and universities for years, and now thanks to a grant from Winfield Solutions (a Land O’Lakes company), instructors of agriculture have access to the wide range of material from CAST, and they may forward the information to students for educational use with no strings attached.

NAAE ReceptionKick-start your convention experience by meeting other attendees in a relaxed setting. The reception will be from 9-10pm on Tuesday, November 15th, so whether you have a late flight or are attending one of the awards dinners that evening, you should still be able to make it. All registered convention attendees will receive two free drink tickets for this event when you check in at the convention registration desk. Get details.

Host State SocialDon't forget to get your Host State Social tickets in advance. On Thursday, November 17, from 6:30-10pm, NAAE Convention attendees with go to the Anheuser-Busch Brewery for a brewery tour and meal. Tickets are $25 per person. More info>>

Congratulations to our Poster Build Contest Winners! Annette Weeks at Battle Ground HS in Washington won the Classroom Supplies Grant. Jamie Renier at University of Wisconsin--River Falls won the the scholarship! Download a poster for your classroom>>

From ACTE

A new report on STEM by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce looks at the variation of STEM areas, the growth of STEM related fields, the economic importance and opportunity of STEM occupations, and the need for more STEM workers.

On October 20, Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) sponsored an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that would require schools to provide internship and apprenticeship opportunties to students in low-performing schools. Although the amendment was not adopted, it sparked a good conversation about the value of such opportunities related to student engagement.

From FFA

A-MAZE-ing Corn Labrynth SAE

If you’ve ever been to a pumpkin patch, you’ve likely seen a corn maze. But not many have seen the likes of the Platte Valley FFA corn maze in Kersey, Colo.

The sprawling maze was located in the chapter- owned field directly behind the FFA ag shop. Early on, the Platte Valley FFA finance committee decided the corn maze would be a corporation, which would allow members to create earnings, savings and investments to better their supervised agricultural experience (SAE) projects for the year.

SAE Grant Applications OpenThe 2011 grant application period is now open. It is highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the rubric before filling out your application. Grant application period closes November 15. Applications postmarked after that date will not be considered.

From USDA

MyPlate Food & Nutrition Education ResourcesThis year USDA has published the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the new MyPlate food icon, and online resources including the comprehensive www.Nutrition.gov for easy access to nutrition education and programs.

MyPlate is the new icon to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal times and to seek more information to help them do that by going to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov. The icon is available for use in English and Spanish (MiPlato), and its messages are simple. Would you like to keep up with the latest materials? Sign up to be a community partner in the new Nutrition Communicators Network or follow MyPlate on twitter. If you’re already using MyPlate at your dinner table, take the MyPlate Fruits and Vegetables Video Challenge by signing up your friends, family, or organization to record a 30 second video of how you’re making MyPlate your plate. Your video could win up to $1,500 for being a great example for kids, eating at home, or eating away from home.

"I laid out my priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill. This legislation addresses farming, but also deals with many important aspects of life in America. It’s about supporting the jobs of the future, it’s about keeping pace with the changing needs of agriculture and rural America, and it’s about providing a safe and ample food supply for the nation.

As Congress writes the portion of the bill involving agriculture, the focus should be on three core principles that have shaped the success of the American farmer over generations: maintaining a strong safety net, supporting sustainable productivity and promoting vibrant markets."

From the American Soybean Association

Scholarship Announcement

The American Soybean Association is offering a$5,000 scholarship to a high school senior who plans to pursue a degree in agriculture next year during the 2012-2013 school year, at any accredited college or university. Deadline to apply is November 15, 2011. Specific academic, leadership, references, and an essay are required. For more details on specific requirements and to apply, click here.

From the National Corn Growers Association

Please be advised that the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is again offering its Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship thanks to the sponsorship of BASF Corporation.

Five (5) one thousand dollar ($1,000) scholarships are available to students entering at least their second undergraduate year (or any year of graduate school) pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in an agricultural, agribusiness, or an ag vocation field.

Applicants or a parent/guardian must be a member of the NCGA. Funds are for the 2012-2013 school year. Past scholarship winners and employees and the families of employees of any division of BASF or their subsidiaries or the NCGA are not eligible for the scholarship.

Applications must be postmarked on or before December 9, 2011.

Rules, requirements and more information along with a downloadable application are available here.

From CASE

Host a CASE Institute CASE Institute Host Site applications are due November 1 this year. We hope to be able to open registration to participants for summer 2012 by January 1. If you are considering hosting a CASE Institute please visit the CASE website at for detailshttp://case4learning.org/.